The last pockets of resistance by the rebels, who had suffered heavy losses, were surrounded by Russian soldiers, the agency said.

Russia's top military commander in the North Caucasus had vowed to wipe out the rebels by the end of Monday. Gen. Anatoly Kvashnin said that civilians had left Novogroznensky through gaps left by the troops and that only separatist fighters remained there. But by nightfall Monday, the shooting seemed to be over for the day, and another commander said peace talks would begin again Tuesday.

Tass said the rebels had lost 120 people in the fighting, but the figure could not be independently confirmed. Russian forces view Novogroznensky as a bastion of rebel resistance and have been advancing on it recently. They have said up to 1,000 insurgent fighters are holed up there.

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Russia's Mir has 10th

While space officials bragged about the Mir on Earth, two Russians and a German were thought to be holding their own quiet celebration in orbit somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.

Mir's 10th anniversary was reached at 12:29 a.m. Moscow time (1:29 p.m. PST Monday). A Soviet rocket carrying the first module for the Mir blasted off Feb. 20, 1986, from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on the steppes of Central Asia.

Colombia corruption

probe: 3 more named Bogota Three more of Colombia's ruling party lawmakers have been formally linked to the corruption scandal that threatens to bring down President Ernesto Samper's government, judicial sources said.

A Supreme Court spokesman identified them as Sens. Armando Holguin and Tiberio Villareal, and Congresswoman Ana Garcia. All are members of Samper's Liberal Party and have been asked to testify as part of a preliminary investigation into charges that they received money from the Cali drug cartel, the spokesman said.

Four other Liberal lawmakers have been arrested since late last year on drug-related charges stemming from a mushrooming probe into allegations that Samper himself used millions of dollars in cartel drug money to bankroll his 1994 election campaign.

Samper was formally accused of illicit enrichment, cover-up and two other criminal charges last week by Prosecutor-General Alfonso Valdivieso.

Valdivieso ratified his charges against Samper in a formal appearance Monday before the head of a congressional committee - which is dominated by the Liberal Party and boasts some members who are suspected of drug corruption themselves - that is constitutionally authorized to open a preliminary hearing into the charges, which could ultimately lead to Samper's impeachment.

Thai police arrest

doomsday cultist BANGKOK Thai police said Tuesday they had arrested a fugitive member of a Japanese doomsday cult and suggested he might have been planning an attack during the March 1-2 Bangkok summit of Asian and European leaders.

Thai Police Chief Pochana Boonyachinda said that the member of the Aum Shinri Kyo (Aum Supreme Truth Sect), identified as Keijiro Ota, 51, was arrested at the request of Japanese authorities following a tip.

"We were led to believe he came to Thailand with a plan to sabotage or to attempt to assassinate leaders during the Asia-Europe meeting," Pochana said.

Leaders of most of the 15 European Union members as well as 10 east Asian countries including Japan are due in Bangkok for the summit.

Pochana said the suspect, who arrived in Thailand on Feb. 1, had been positively identified by Japanese government officials.

Quebec's separatist

premier wins handily Montreal Lucien Bouchard, leader of Quebec's separatist movement, has won 96 percent of the vote in a special election for the provincial legislature, his first election test since becoming premier of the province last month.

Bouchard was opposed only by six fringe candidates. In an even more impressive victory for his Parti Quebecois, party Vice President Monique Simard won another race against a Liberal Party candidate by a 2-1 margin.

The Liberal Party's national leader, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, is a staunch foe of Quebec separatism.

Bouchard, who led the separatists to the brink of victory in an independence referendum last October, was sworn in as premier Jan. 29, but needed to win a legislative seat to legitimize his position.

Ex-army official

admits torturing 6 TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras A retired army captain wanted in the 1982 kidnapping and torture of six students admitted his guilt and apologized to his victims, but did not volunteer to surrender himself for trial.

"I ask pardon for having contributed to that history of pain and suffering that you experienced," Billy Joya said in a message to the students.

The apology was part of a one-hour previously recorded interview broadcast Monday on a Honduran radio station. Joya also used the occasion to accuse human rights groups of backing terrorists in Honduras, a charge the groups angrily denied.

Joya and two other former officers have been fugitives since Oct. 17, when a judge ordered their arrests in the abduction and torture of the university students. The students were eventually freed.

Seven other soldiers are charged in the case, which would be the first civil trial of Honduran soldiers accused of human rights abuses.&lt;

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